India, Russia to build navigational satellite project

Thursday, 02 December 2004, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: India and Russia are putting together their space technology skills to build an ambitious navigational satellite project that would have both civilian and military applications. A milestone agreement on Indian participation in the proposed Global Navigational Satellite System (Glonass) as an "equal and sole partner" of Russia is to be signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's three-day visit to India from Thursday, a senior official said. Russia had revived the project recently as an alternative to the US Global Positioning Satellite System (GPS) and invited India to join it. New Delhi's positive response comes in the wake of delay in finalising India's participation in the Galileo satellite navigation system that European Union (EU) is developing. India, which had pledged 300 million euros for the Galileo project, was willing to take part only as an "equal partner" with access to the satellite codes during times of peace and war that the Russians are more than willing to agree. However, the official said the Russian and EU projects are not "mutually exclusive," indicating that New Delhi is keeping its option open on joining the Galileo project. Besides, the agreement on Glonass, the two sides will also sign an agreement on peaceful uses of outer space and visa exemption for diplomats and official passport holders. An agreement on liberalising and facilitating business visas is also likely to give a boost to trade and economic ties that have declined since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Putin, who will be heading a high-level delegation of ministers, officials and businessmen will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday as part of the institutionalised annual summit between the two countries held alternatively in each other's capital. Another agreement on "twinning" of Mumbai with St. Petersburg, Putin's hometown, is also expected to be signed during the visit. The mayor of St. Petersburg will be in Putin's entourage to sign the agreement. The two sides will also discuss defence cooperation that continues to be a key area of bilateral relations and possibility of Russian assistance in setting up two more nuclear power plants in Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu, in addition to the two 1,000 MW plants already under construction. Besides New Delhi, Putin will visit Bangalore, the hub of India's information technology and knowledge industry. He will interact with officials of IT majors and address a joint meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. "This visit marks transition from the declaratory phase (of relations) to something we will be doing very practically," the official said, adding the hallmark of the visit would be the concrete steps the two countries would decide to give shape to their strategic partnership. He said one of the main challenges the two countries faced was pushing up trade and commercial ties. Both recognised the need for backup of banking facilities in this regard and eight banks from either side are expected to sign agreements on cooperation. State Bank of India, Canara Bank and ICICI are also expected to open branches in Moscow shortly.
Source: IANS